Help Us Build a School!

Warmest greetings!

I am wanting to pass on the below message from my friend Wendy as a reminder about the "Art From Our Hearts" fundraiser that will be happening on Saturday, June 28th. If you feel so moved, please feel free to request a poster to help spread the word, to purchase on line if you are unable to come, and/or to share about this event with others. Helping to build this school is so exciting!! And if you are able to come, we look forward to seeing you there! Brightest blessings ~ Molly

----- Original Message -----
From: W. M BJORNSON DAVID GONZALES
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:38 PM
Subject: Help us build a school!

Dear Friends,

Next Saturday, June 28th, we are holding our first 'Art From Our Hearts' art show and fundraiser. It will be at Awakenings Wellness Center, 1016 SE 12th Avenue from 10:00 - 4:00. We will be offering cards and card sets along with laser and giclee prints of art by Olivia Oso, Marsha Donner, and myself. You can preview our art at www.artfromourhearts.org. For this art show, our community has also contributed photography by Julie Doll, gourd art by Kat Cunningham, jewelry from the Manifesting Divas and Molly Strong, and more.

For those of you who don't know "Art From Our Hearts," it is a humanitarian project that uses art we have created together to communicate a deep vision of a more open-hearted world. All the proceeds from our art go to support humanitarian projects in developing countries. We especially want to support projects that help strengthen communities and help bring more hope and opportunity into their lives. In the face of daily news that tells us all that is wrong in the world, we want to help expand the 'global heart' and be part of what is right in the world.

This year, proceeds from our sales are going to the Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org) to help build a school for girls in an impoverished mountain community in Afghanistan or Pakistan. The CAI was founded by Greg Mortensen - you can read his story in the best selling book 'Three Cups of Tea' - after encountering a tremendous need and desire in these remote communities for schools where none exist. The goal of the CAI is to empower local people in all of their projects to help educate their children and develop their communities. Described as the 'front line' of terrorism because desperate people are recruited from these impoverished villages, the schools become a crucial turning point for a more peaceful and stable development.

I know you all to be generous, open-hearted, and concerned about making a difference in the world. For only about $12,000, this is one way that our community can directly help another community that is struggling in the heart of this troubled part of the world.

Please come and help us build a school! If you can't come on the 28th but would like to help, you will be able to order Art From Our Hearts cards and prints online beginning June 25th or you can call or email me anytime (503-245-3485).

PLEASE ALSO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD. Please forward this email to your lists. I have attached two pdf files - one is a poster for the Art Show and the other is some information about the Central Asia Institute for you to distribute to those you think would be interested.

Thank you for your big hearts and all you do to make a difference. I hope to see you on the 28th!

Wendy Bjornson
createhealth@msn.com
(503) 245-3485